Rapid assembly frame construction

ABSTRACT

A rapid assembly frame construction to allow predetermined frame sizes to be assembled directly by the ultimate user. A moulding having a metal backing is mitered at predetermined locations, except for the backing. The backing is bent at the apex of the miter cuts to form a frame. The free ends are joined by a plastic or metal angle which fits into appropriate channels in the mouldings on the inner side of the moulding wall. Prepositioned holes in the angle and the mouldings are slightly out of alignment with the angle holes located somewhat nearer to the miter. Passage of a nail having a diameter substantially equal to that of the holes will tend to pull the angle away from the miter and towards the holes in the mouldings, but since the angle is rigid, in fact, the free ends of the frame are drawn closer together. This net force will cause the miter joint to completely close, forming a strong and tight joint.

United States Patent Bendix [541 PRAPID ASSEMBLY FRAME CONSTRUCTION [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 247,094, April 24,

1972, abandoned. r

[52] US. Cl 40/152, 287/2092 F 51 Int. Cl. G09: 1/12 [58] Field of Search 40/152, 152.1, l55;

287/18936 H, 20.921), 20.92 E, 20.92 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 133,707 12/1872 Hutchinson 40/155 [111 3,802,105 Apr. 9, 1974 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Wolder & Gross 57 1 ABSTRACT The free ends are joined by a plastic or metal angle which fits into appropriate channels in the mouldings on the inner side of the moulding wall. Prepositioned holes in the angle andthe mouldings are slightly out of alignment with the angle holes located somewhat nearer to the miter. Passage of a nail having a diameter substantially equal to that of the holes will tend to pull the angle away from the miter and 668,615 2/1901 towards the holes in the mouldings, but since the angle 1,335,554 3/1920 is rigid, in fact, the free ends of the frame are drawn 2,505,553 4/1950 closer together. This net force will cause the miter 2,521,603 0 joint to completely close, forming a strong and tight 2,974,992 3/1961. Gates 287/2092 E joint FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS r 1 123,988 12/1946 Sweden 40 152 1 3 l w 11 Drawmg figures RAPID ASSEMBLY rais ns CONSTRUCTION RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part application ofSer. No. 247,094 filed Apr. 24, 1972 and now abandoned.

' PRIOR ART The present invention relates to frames, and more particularly to rapid assembly frame constructions such as may be used for pictures, photographs, prints, lithographs, etc.

When an ultimate user selects a frame, he or she usually goes to a store specialiiing in providing such services. The store has had a selection of various styles of frames and the user selects one.'The store has a supply of long strips of the frames, which'are cut into desired lengths and are glued or nailed together, wth the pciture, etc., placed within the frame, or with a matting as desired. I I

The method used in cutting and assembling a frame, requires an acquired skill, and eonse'quently, the major costs of a frame are in labor expenses.

Furthermore, most framing stores are very busy and it may take a considerable period of time until a frame even for arelatively unimportant work, is availableAs a result, there is a great need for an inexpensive frame to be made available to the ultimate user for use with minor works, or for protection purposes of a temporary nature, without the resulting high costs of the average frame. 7 I

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES Accordingly, it is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a rapid assembly frame construction which can be expeditiously assembled by the ultimate user, with all miter joints being completely closed, especially. the miter formed from the free ends of the frame.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a construction of'the character described, in which the angle joining the free ended miter corner and the associated mouldings have openings which are slightly unaligned initially,'buat which are forceably aligned by means of passing narrow fastener members there through.

ing. For convenience in forming a rectangular frame, the miter cuts are 45 on each side of the bisecting axis. The backing is made of a pliant metal or plastic. The free ends of the backing have channels bored on the sides of the moulding. Holes are drilled through the moulding, the central axes of which pass perpendicular to and through the channels.

In addition, there is provided an angle, whose arms have holes drilled therethrough, the major axes of which are substantially aligned, but slightly out of full alignment with the major axes of the holes in the mouldings, the angle holes being closer to the miter than the moulding holes.

To assemble the frame, the backing is simply bent at the apex of the miter cuts, and the free ends are joined by a plastic or metal rectangular angle or corner which is received within the channels on .the sides of the mouldings at the free ends. Male fastener members such as nails are passed through the openings in the mouldings, and the conicalIy-shaped head portion is received within the hole in the angle. Since theangle hole is slightly out of alignment withthe miter hole, continu'ed passage of the male member into the, angle hole creates'a force tending to draw the angle away fromthe miter. In reality this has the effect of v drawing the mouldings more tightly to the miter, completely closing the joint.

The above description and objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the followingdescription taken with reference to the accom panying drawings, wherein: p v FIG. 1 is a plan view of the frame embodying the invention, with the moulding in shipping condition, and the channels for the angle or corner shown by dotted lines;

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a construction of the character described,

available in predetermined frame sizes, which may be shiped as standard moulding in vertical lengths.

. Still yet a further object'of the present invention is to provide a frame of'the described construction which may be assembled without the use of framing services or middle men, thus resulting in vastly decreased framing costs.

Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a rapid assembly frame which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy yet be durable to a-high degree in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE INVENTION to assemble and I FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear view of the frameof FIG. 1 in assembled condition showing the channels in mating condition, ready to receive the: angle; FIG. 3'is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partly cut away, fragmentary view of the free ends of the frame, with the corner and fasteners inposition within the channels; 1

FIG. 5 is a side el'evational view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1; t FIG. 6 is a perspective. view of the angles FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, partly cut away, similar to FIG.. 4, of another embodiment of the invention showmouldings and angle, and the miter joint being com pletely closed; g

I FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of themiter of FIG. 7;

and

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the line Il-ll of FIG. 10 with the male fastener member about to pass into the non-aligned opening of the angle.

Referring in detail to the drawings and more particularly toFIGS. l and 6, there is shown a rapid assembly frame construction comprising a metal covered wood moulding frame 'joined by a comer 12.

The frame 10 generally consists of any type of a decorative piece of moulding and may have any one of a number of different types of styles. The frame 10 consists of a moulding portion (FIG. 5) 12 which may be of any number of styles, and in the particular style shown consists of a body portion 14 and an arm portion 16. A material which is pliant, and can be easily bent, surrounds the moulding. The pliant member 18 may be a metal, such as soft iron, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. It is most imperative that this material be located along the backing edge of the body portion.

In order to more easily define the present invention, the body portion 14 of the moulding 13 is defined by a side surface (FIG. 3) 20, a forward surface 22 and an inside surface 24. The arm portion 16 depending therefrom is defined by rear surface 26 and inner side surface 28 and a backing surface 30. A frame is placed within the receptacle formed by. surfaces 24, 28. facing toward surface 22 in the well-known manner.

The backing element 18' is defined by a rear lip 32, a backing'wall 34, a front wall 36, an inner side wall 38, and an inwardly directed shoulder lip 40.

Turning once again to FIG. 1, at predetermined locations 42, 44 and 46, miter cuts have been made into the wood moulding, and through the metal, where necessary, but not through the backing edge 34. The miter cut is such that a right angle cut is formed, or the cut is 45 on each side of the axial bisector of the cut. Cut 42 is then determined by perpendicular sides 48, meeting at apex,52; cut 44 is determined by perpendicular. sides 52, 54 meeting at apex 56; and cut 46 is determined by perpendicular sides 58, 60 meeting at apex The left hand free end 64 of the frame is formed at a 45 angle from the perpendicular bisector, and the cut extends through the backing edge. The right hand free end 65 is also formed 45 fromthe bisector, and the cut is made through the backing edge to form the right free edge. I

A channel 66 is formed inwardly form the left hand cut 64 surfacing on the rear edge 26 of the moulding and is defined by side walls 68, 70 (FIG. 4).and bottom wall 72 (FIG. 5) holes. In a like manner a channel 74 is formed going inwardly of the right hand edge 65 and is defined by side walls 76, 78 (FIG. 4) and a bottom wall 80 (FIG. 1) hole. The'channels are so aligned as to meet when the frame is assembled, as will be described below. I 7

As best seen in FIG. 5, there are holes 81 passing through the arm 16 inwardly from the wall 28 towards thewall 30, but not the whole length therethrough. The hole does pass throughthe open area of the channel 72. In a like manner similar holespiercethe other free end passing through the channel 70.

The angle or corner has'substantially the same dimensions of the channels, and consists of a left arm 82 and a right arm 84 designed to be received within the channels 66, 74 with a squeeze fit. The corner may be made of a slightly resilient plastic, metal, or any other similar material. The comer also has therethrough holes 85 which pass through the angle and are almost in alignment with the holes 81. However, the holes are slightly out of alignment. During initial assembly the holes in the angle are closer to the miter than the holes in the moulding.

In order to better explain the invention, reference is had to FIGS. 71] which show a slightly modified version of the frame, with positioning of the channels extending inwardly from the side'surface 28 rather than from the rear surface 26, but is otherwise substantially identical to the frameconstruction set forth in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 11, the channel 74' extends inwardly from the surface 28 towards the backing surface 30. Holes 81 are drilled through the arm 16' extending from the surface 26 towards the front surface 22 and passing through the channel.

The angle or corner 12 is slipped inwardly of the side channels and has a hole 85 which is the same diameter as the hole 81 and in its normal condition its major axis is slightly out of alignment with that of the hole 81'.

85' and creates a force that tends to draw the angle iron I away from the miter joint. In reality, since the angle is solid and the miter joint will move, a rotation is created equal to the number of degrees of the angle 106 formed by the open miter joint. 'As the free arms rotate, the holes draw into alignment with each other, and accordingly the channels rotate slightly closing the open space i 100 between the bottom wall of the channel and theanposition shown in FIG. 2.

gle. This creates a very tight secure fit between the miter of the free endsof the frame. There may also be some lateral movement of the free ends of the frame.

To assemble the frame, the ultimate user goes into a frame store, and selects from stock a desired style moulding, having miter cuts at predetermined locations to receive the desired picture, either by itself or with an accompanying mat. The user then bends the backing edge 34 at the apexes 52, 56, 62, of the cuts'42, 44, 46 forming corners 86, 88, with the frame assuming the The'assembly of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-11 has already been described, and the assembly of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 will nowbe described. At this point the angle 12 may be positioned within the channels and the male fastener members pass through the openings 81 and 85, thus drawing the I free end miter joint tightly together in a similar manner as described above.

Thus the desired objects ofthe invention are achieved, since a frameof a desired moulding, and of a desired predetermined size, may be rapidly assembled for a permanent or a semi-permanent joinder, depend- I claim:

l. A rapid assembly frame construction which comprises;

a. a moulding strip having a backing side; b. backing material secured to at least the backing side of the moulding, the material being pliant; c. at least one angle cut through the moulding strip;

d. the ends of the strip being angularly cut, so that upon the folding at the angle cut, the backing material bends to form a corner, and the resulting assembly half a frame;

e. means to join the ends of the strips to another corner, the means comprising channels defined within the free ends of the moulding strip, anchoring means to retain the free ends of the frames, the means being an angle having substantially the same dimensions of the channels; holes defined in the free ends of the moulding strip and passing through the channels, holes in the angle under normal conditions just slightly out of alignment with said channels; and

f. means passing through the holes in the channels and the angle to draw the holes into alignment with each other, completely closing the miter.

2. The invention according to claim 1, the anchoring means being a plastic angle having substantially the same dimensions as the channels.-

3. The invention according to claim I, the angle cut being 45 on either side of the bisector of the cut.

4. The invention according to claim 1, the anchoring means being an iron angle having substantially the same dimensions as the channels.

5. The invention according to claim 1, the holes passing inwardly from the side wall of the moulding perpendicular to the side walls of the channels.

6. The invention according to claim 5, the holes in the angle under initial conditions being slightly closer to the formed corner than the holes in the moulding.

7. The invention according to claim 1, the holes passing inwardly from the rear wall of the moulding and perpendicular to the side walls of the channels.

8. The invention according to claim 7, the holes in the angle under initial conditions being slightly closer V to the formed corner than the holes in the moulding. 

1. A rapid assembly frame construction which comprises; a. a moulding strip having a backing side; b. backing material secured to at least the backing side of the moulding, the material being pliant; c. at least one angle cut through the moulding strip; d. the ends of the strip being angularly cut, so that upon the folding at the angle cut, the backing material bends to form a corner, and the resulting assembly half a frame; e. means to join the ends of the strips to another corner, the means comprising channels defined within the free ends of the moulding strip, anchoring means to retain the free ends of the frames, the means being an angle having substantially the same dimensions of the channels; holes defined in the free ends of the moulding strip and passing through the channels, holes in the angle under normal conditions just slightly out of alignment with said channels; and f. means passing through the holes in the channels and the angle to draw the holes into alignment with each other, completely closing the miter.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, the anchoring means being a plastic angle having substantially the same dimensions as the channels.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, the angle cut being 45* on either side of the bisector of the cut.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, the anchoring means being an iron angle having substantially the same dimensions as the channels.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, the holes passing inwardly from the side wall of the moulding perpendicular to the side walls of the channels.
 6. The invention according to claim 5, the holes in the angle under initial conditions being slightly closer to the formed corner than the holes in the moulding.
 7. The invention according to claim 1, the holes passing inwardly from the rear wall of the moulding and perpendicular to the side walls of the channels.
 8. The invention according to claim 7, the holes in the angle under initial conditions being slightly closer to the formed corner than the holes in the moulding. 